Thailand has formally demanded that Cambodia declare a unilateral ceasefire in an effort to halt ongoing border clashes, officials announced on 16 December. At a press briefing in Bangkok, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marati Nalita Andamo asserted that as the country responsible for recent cross-border incursions, Cambodia should first announce a cessation of hostilities on Thai soil.
Andamo further called for Cambodian cooperation in landmine clearance initiatives along the contested border, framing this as a critical humanitarian measure. Despite these statements, Cambodian authorities have not publicly responded, leaving the tense situation unresolved. Both nations continue to accuse each other of initiating attacks while insisting they are acting in self-defence, creating a stalemate that endangers civilian populations.
The conflict stems from longstanding territorial disputes along an 817-kilometre border. Tensions reignited on 7 December, leading to repeated confrontations and resulting in at least 32 deaths among military personnel and civilians. The fighting has also forced approximately 800,000 people to flee their homes and seek temporary shelter in safer areas, highlighting the escalating human toll of the crisis.
Al Jazeera correspondent Jack Barton reported from a shelter in Thailand’s Sisaket province, noting that explosions from Thai artillery and Cambodian rocket fire could still be heard, indicating the conflict continues despite claims of mediation. The current violence has undone the fragile ceasefire brokered by former US President Donald Trump in July, which had temporarily halted hostilities through threats of trade sanctions. Attempts to mediate again have so far failed, with Bangkok denying that any truce has been reached.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stressed that Thailand faces no external pressure to end the conflict, declining to clarify whether trade threats from the United States have influenced ongoing military operations. Meanwhile, Thai authorities are attempting to repatriate roughly 6,000 citizens stranded at Poipet border checkpoint, which Cambodia has closed for civilian safety reasons.
Former Cambodian Prime Minister and current Senate President Hun Sen explained that the closure was intended to protect civilians from indiscriminate shelling. Cambodian officials have emphasised that their forces remain committed to defending the nation “resolutely and courageously” against Thai aggression.
As the crisis continues, observers warn that without renewed diplomatic engagement, the border conflict could prolong, exacerbating civilian displacement, regional instability, and humanitarian suffering across both sides of the frontier.